I believe the current projections are Republicans losing very little ground.

Not really.

Repubs are expected to lose the Senate but keep the House of Reps.

The Senate is important in order to get appointed officials in office. The HoR is where bills get formed (generally, there are ways around this but they require lots of political maneuvering and are easily blown up) and without both the HoR and the Senate the Democrats can't really change policy all that much.

Likely things will limp along much as they've done for the last 6yr or so like they did under Obama. So expect lots of Repub. bitching about executive orders.

In 2018 Democrats will likely lose the Senate (more vulnerable Dem. seats up for reelection than Repub. + mid term election which Dem. voters don't show up for) and the Repub. will win a few more seats in the HoR taking back their expected losses from 2016.

In 2020 is where things actually get interesting. Its currently still expected that the Dems. will win the Presidency (Repub. candidates are all trash, best one they'll likely be able to present is Cruz + shifting demographics) and because its an election year they'll likely get a boost for down ticket races that might be big enough to get the HoR and Senate too. If that happens they'll be able to fix the current gerrymandering that was put in place by the 2010 Repub. controlled Congress (gives them a estimated 6-8 percent vote advantage over Democrats depending on whose numbers you look at) and at that point the Repubs. will be screwed for a long time out of any seats in Federal govt.

2020 is a looong 4yr away and lots can still happen (ie. recession, statistically the US gets 1 every 10yr or so, so we're due for one soon) to blow all that up but that is, as far as I know, the best educated guesswork about how things might pan out in the near-ish future.

Who knows. Maybe Trump will disgust enough Repubs that down ticket turnout is depressed enough to give the Dems. some extra seats in the HoR or Senate. If the poll data is any predictor some states that were once considered solid Repub. votes are now in play and could turn Purple or even Blue this election.

I believe the current projections are Republicans losing very little ground.

Not really.

Repubs are expected to lose the Senate but keep the House of Reps.

The Senate is important in order to get appointed officials in office. The HoR is where bills get formed (generally, there are ways around this but they require lots of political maneuvering and are easily blown up) and without both the HoR and the Senate the Democrats can't really change policy all that much.

Likely things will limp along much as they've done for the last 6yr or so like they did under Obama.

In 2018 Democrats will likely lose the Senate (more vulnerable Dem. seats up for reelection than Repub. + mid term election which Dem. voters don't show up for) and the Repub. will win a few more seats in the HoR taking back their expected losses from 2016.

In 2020 is where things actually get interesting. Its currently still expected that the Dems. will win the Presidency (Repub. candidates are all trash, best one they'll likely be able to present is Cruz + shifting demographics) and because its an election year they'll likely get a boost for down ticket races that might be big enough to get the HoR and Senate too. If that happens they'll be able to fix the current gerrymandering that was put in place by the 2010 Repub. controlled Congress (gives them a estimated 6-8 percent vote advantage over Democrats depending on whose numbers you look at) and at that point the Repubs. will be screwed for a long time out of any seats in Federal govt.

2020 is a looong 4yr away and lots can still happen (ie. recession, statistically the US gets 1 every 10yr or so, so we're due for one soon) to blow all that up but that is, as far as I know, the best educated guesswork about how things might pan out in the near-ish future.

Who knows. Maybe Trump will disgust enough Repubs that down ticket turnout is depressed enough to give the Dems. some extra seats in the HoR or Senate. If the poll data is any predictor some states that were once considered solid Repub. votes are now in play and could turn Purple or even Blue this election.

Some interesting data to ponder:

That's some pretty far off predictions in a world where most recent political predictions seem to be worthless.

Honest question, why does someone from law enforcement have anything to do with whether charges are pressed? If someone robs you, and after an investigation the cops say don't recommend charges, does your lawyer just throw up his hands and consider it a done deal?

The cops are responsible for collecting evidence. If they tell the prosecutor they don't have enough evidence, the prosecutor would probably just be wasting their time (but obviously could disagree).

The decision not to prosecute was expected by anyone neutral to the politics. Proving criminal intent is a very high bar to meet. And without actual harm done the case became even more difficult.

Yes. The usual punishment for this sort of thing is administrative - things like revocation of security clearance or termination (generally the same thing, since no clearance = you can't do the job = fired). But it's irrelevant in her case, because of where she's at. She's not at the job anymore, and if she gets elected President it's also irrelevant - because the President and Vice President don't need security clearances. Everything is classified or not on their authority, and they can decide on whim to declassify anything. Anyone who thinks this disqualifies her for that office and responsibility has to make that case to the voters, who are the ones that get the final say.

I'm going to suggest, though, that the Republicans screaming about how she should be prosecuted or in jail aren't doing a terribly effective job of making that case, though, at least at present.

I did a quick bit of research. The only instance of 18 U.S.C. 793(f) being used to prosecute anyone was U.S. v. Dedeyan, 584 F.2d 36 (4th Cir., 1978) (which was referenced by Dir. Comey in his press conference and at the House hearing).

In that case, a civilian mathematician took some classified documents home to proofread. His cousin, who was a Soviet agent, was staying with him and took pictures of the classified work he brought home with him. The cousin later told him he copied the classified materials and gave him $1000 to keep quiet, which he did.

In that case, the DOJ brought charges under 18 U.S.C. 793(f) because he didn't report that the classified material was copied after he learned about it, and for taking the bribe to remain silent.

There has never been an instance of the DOJ bringing a 18 U.S.C. 793(f) case against anyone for mere gross negligence alone.

That's some pretty far off predictions in a world where most recent political predictions seem to be worthless.

Nonsense. Nate Silver is generally pretty good at predicting elections and the current voting populace is incredibly polarized between Dems and Repubs with very few on either side willing to switch who they vote for.

As long as that situation holds true polling data is actually fairly half way decent a predictor of how things play out. The rub there is your polls have to be good. GIGO is always something you have to consider. Look how Romney got screwed over by his internal "poll unskewing" for instance.

It's funny how angry the GOP is over this. They've had her tried, convicted, and all but publicly executed for years now, but nothing on which to hang her head. They tried so, so hard with Benghazi but it was so much bullshit that it was obvious they weren't "searching for answers" but rather digging for something, anything, to destroy her with.

Much like Obama, her true crime was being a Democrat. A sin that the GOP can never forgive her for. They tried to tear down Obama, but failed utterly, and they've tried to tear down Clinton as well and have also failed so far. Then they failed themselves by letting Trump drag the party and the level of political discourse in this country into the mud.

Maybe people will realize, some day, that the GOP is diseased and its members now put the power of the party, and its ridiculous ideology, well before the good of this country. Their actions over the last 16 years should have made this readily apparent.

FTFY:It's funny how angry the GOP isDemocrats are over this. They've had her tried, convicted, and all but publicly executedsaved, lied for, covered up for years now, but nothing on which to hang her head. They tried so, so hard with Benghazi but it was so much bullshit that it was obvious they weren't "searching for answers" but rather digging for something, anything, to destroy her with which exposed her failures.

Much like Obama, her true crime was being a Democratcriminal traitor to the Constitution. A sin that the GOP can never forgive her for. They (The Democrats) tried to tear downsave Obama, but failed utterly, and they've tried to tear down save Clinton as well and have also failed so far. Then they failed themselves by letting TrumpHillary and Obama drag the party and the level of political discourse in this country into the mud.

Maybe people will realize, some day, that the GOP isDemocrats are diseased and its members now put the power of the party, and its ridiculous ideology, well before the good of this country. Their actions over the last 16 years should have made this readily apparent

The Republicans have known for 8 years that Clinton was likely to be the Democratic candidate in 2016. They have been working very hard to demonize her at every possible opportunity. They will continue to do this until the day of the election.

I have to correct you on one key point.

They have been working very hard to demonize her at every possible opportunity. They will continue to do this if she is elected for every day of her term, no matter how counterproductive or petty it may actually be.

They may also continue demonizing her after the fact, regardless of campaign or term outcome, just in case. You never know, y'know.

Impeachment in the United States is an expressed power of the legislature that allows formal charges to be brought against a civil officer of government for crimes alleged to have been committed while in office.

Give up already! Can we get back to the important issues facing America like our failing infrastructure. Where are the hearings on that?

It'll be coming up right after the 100th attempt to eliminate the ACA.

Luckily, after trump is President attempt 101 eliminating ObamaCare will be passed by Congress and signed by President Trump.Then on day 2 of Trump's Presidency...Trump appoints new AG and FBI Director who are approved by the Republican Senate.Day 3, Clinton is indicted by the DOJ.

Someone needs to stop hitting the crackpipe and since I don't do drugs, that person isn't me.

The Republicans have known for 8 years that Clinton was likely to be the Democratic candidate in 2016. They have been working very hard to demonize her at every possible opportunity. They will continue to do this until the day of the election.

I have to correct you on one key point.They have been working very hard to demonize her at every possible opportunity. They will continue to do this if she is elected for every day of her term, no matter how counterproductive or petty it may actually be.

Violating federal law and holding Hillary accountable is petty? Luckily, tens of millions more people disagree with you and will vote Trump into the Presidency.

See my later post on this. Basically it is something like a max of 6 or 7 seats the Dems could pick up.

In the Senate yes. That will be enough to give them majority though. Which is a huge deal if they want to get their appointments in, say, the SCOTUS.

In the HoR its virtually impossible to flip control to the Dems even if Clinton gets a massive win over Trump on par with Reagan's win over Mondale but every extra seat they get now is one they get more of a chance to keep in 2018.

Give up already! Can we get back to the important issues facing America like our failing infrastructure. Where are the hearings on that?

It'll be coming up right after the 100th attempt to eliminate the ACA.

Luckily, after trump is President attempt 101 eliminating ObamaCare will be passed by Congress and signed by President Trump.Then on day 2 of Trump's Presidency...Trump appoints new AG and FBI Director who are approved by the Republican Senate.Day 3, Clinton is indicted by the DOJ.

Someone needs to stop hitting the crackpipe and since I don't do drugs, that person isn't me.

You just inject the crack?

Sadly, once again you've proven you can't read.

I said I don't do drugs. Not sure how you could get "inject" from "don't do". Possibly it is your constant state of illusion at work again.

The decision not to prosecute was expected by anyone neutral to the politics. Proving criminal intent is a very high bar to meet. And without actual harm done the case became even more difficult who understands the politics.

Sub this for the strike: Proving criminal intent was never necessary considering the standard here should be gross negligence, and even though actual harm was done when her server according to experts was almost certainly hacked, her not being indicted is about what anybody who has been paying attention to the bishops of the democratic party circling her and anointing her while chanting "All really do like her. None have any issues with trusting her...

In court you have to prove criminal intent. Considering the actions of previous Secretaries of State and others just trying to have a functioning department, it's clear that Clinton's actions were not criminal.

No you don't for every crime.

If it is an element of the crime, then yes. Otherwise, criminal intent has been forgone for some time now.

Give up already! Can we get back to the important issues facing America like our failing infrastructure. Where are the hearings on that?

It'll be coming up right after the 100th attempt to eliminate the ACA.

Luckily, after trump is President attempt 101 eliminating ObamaCare will be passed by Congress and signed by President Trump.Then on day 2 of Trump's Presidency...Trump appoints new AG and FBI Director who are approved by the Republican Senate.Day 3, Clinton is indicted by the DOJ.

Give up already! Can we get back to the important issues facing America like our failing infrastructure. Where are the hearings on that?

It'll be coming up right after the 100th attempt to eliminate the ACA.

Luckily, after trump is President attempt 101 eliminating ObamaCare will be passed by Congress and signed by President Trump.

Then on day 2 of Trump's Presidency...

Trump appoints new AG and FBI Director who are approved by the Republican Senate.

Day 3, Clinton is indicted by the DOJ.

Awww.. How cute. You think Republicans want to repeal the ACA.. You think the insurance companies will let them take away a government mandated revenue stream?

At most, Republicans will get rid of annoying elements like covering pre-existing conditions, allowing children to stay on their parents insurance, and other things which affect the insurance companies bottom line..

You know, doing what Republicans do best - Shafting the American people.

Give up already! Can we get back to the important issues facing America like our failing infrastructure. Where are the hearings on that?

It'll be coming up right after the 100th attempt to eliminate the ACA.

Luckily, after trump is President attempt 101 eliminating ObamaCare will be passed by Congress and signed by President Trump.Then on day 2 of Trump's Presidency...Trump appoints new AG and FBI Director who are approved by the Republican Senate.Day 3, Clinton is indicted by the DOJ.

Awww.. How cute. You think Republicans want to repeal the ACA.. You think the insurance companies will let them take away a government mandated revenue stream?At most, Republicans will get rid of annoying elements like covering pre-existing conditions, allowing children to stay on their parents insurance, and other things which affect the insurance companies bottom line..You know, doing what Republicans do best - Shafting the American people.(This is not to say that Democrats are much better)

Aw how cute, you think health insurance companies want ObamaCare.

There has not been a Republican President for 7 years. All that shafting you mention is Obama's shaft all up inside ya.

Give up already! Can we get back to the important issues facing America like our failing infrastructure. Where are the hearings on that?

It'll be coming up right after the 100th attempt to eliminate the ACA.

Luckily, after trump is President attempt 101 eliminating ObamaCare will be passed by Congress and signed by President Trump.Then on day 2 of Trump's Presidency...Trump appoints new AG and FBI Director who are approved by the Republican Senate.Day 3, Clinton is indicted by the DOJ.

Someone needs to stop hitting the crackpipe and since I don't do drugs, that person isn't me.

You just inject the crack?

Sadly, once again you've proven you can't read.I said I don't do drugs. Not sure how you could get "inject" from "don't do". Possibly it is your constant state of illusion at work again.

Give up already! Can we get back to the important issues facing America like our failing infrastructure. Where are the hearings on that?

It'll be coming up right after the 100th attempt to eliminate the ACA.

Luckily, after trump is President attempt 101 eliminating ObamaCare will be passed by Congress and signed by President Trump.Then on day 2 of Trump's Presidency...Trump appoints new AG and FBI Director who are approved by the Republican Senate.Day 3, Clinton is indicted by the DOJ.

Awww.. How cute. You think Republicans want to repeal the ACA.. You think the insurance companies will let them take away a government mandated revenue stream?At most, Republicans will get rid of annoying elements like covering pre-existing conditions, allowing children to stay on their parents insurance, and other things which affect the insurance companies bottom line..You know, doing what Republicans do best - Shafting the American people.(This is not to say that Democrats are much better)

Aw how cute, you think health insurance companies want ObamaCare.

There has not been a Republican President for 7 years. All that shafting you mention is Obama's shaft all up inside ya.

Of course insurance companies want Obamacare, it's a massive giveaway directly to them, and requiring customers to buy their product.

Give up already! Can we get back to the important issues facing America like our failing infrastructure. Where are the hearings on that?

It'll be coming up right after the 100th attempt to eliminate the ACA.

Luckily, after trump is President attempt 101 eliminating ObamaCare will be passed by Congress and signed by President Trump.Then on day 2 of Trump's Presidency...Trump appoints new AG and FBI Director who are approved by the Republican Senate.Day 3, Clinton is indicted by the DOJ.

Day 4, Trump declares, I am the senate! All American ground troops will get snazzy new combat armor:Day 5, A small freighter will be attacked, but two droids that the troopers will not be looking for will escape with the plans to Trump's wall that Mexico will pay for....This all sounds familiar. I can't think of where I've seen this before, though...

Sorry, Charlie. I beat you to the picture caption and I asked why Hillary was the Emperor.

Give up already! Can we get back to the important issues facing America like our failing infrastructure. Where are the hearings on that?

It'll be coming up right after the 100th attempt to eliminate the ACA.

Luckily, after trump is President attempt 101 eliminating ObamaCare will be passed by Congress and signed by President Trump.Then on day 2 of Trump's Presidency...Trump appoints new AG and FBI Director who are approved by the Republican Senate.Day 3, Clinton is indicted by the DOJ.

Awww.. How cute. You think Republicans want to repeal the ACA.. You think the insurance companies will let them take away a government mandated revenue stream?At most, Republicans will get rid of annoying elements like covering pre-existing conditions, allowing children to stay on their parents insurance, and other things which affect the insurance companies bottom line..You know, doing what Republicans do best - Shafting the American people.(This is not to say that Democrats are much better)

Aw how cute, you think health insurance companies want ObamaCare.

There has not been a Republican President for 7 years. All that shafting you mention is Obama's shaft all up inside ya.

Yeah, what kind of business would want a government mandate to buy their product? I am sure they really hate that people are forced to buy their shitty products.

Give up already! Can we get back to the important issues facing America like our failing infrastructure. Where are the hearings on that?

It'll be coming up right after the 100th attempt to eliminate the ACA.

Luckily, after trump is President attempt 101 eliminating ObamaCare will be passed by Congress and signed by President Trump.

Then on day 2 of Trump's Presidency...

Trump appoints new AG and FBI Director who are approved by the Republican Senate.

Day 3, Clinton is indicted by the DOJ.

Awww.. How cute. You think Republicans want to repeal the ACA.. You think the insurance companies will let them take away a government mandated revenue stream?

At most, Republicans will get rid of annoying elements like covering pre-existing conditions, allowing children to stay on their parents insurance, and other things which affect the insurance companies bottom line..

You know, doing what Republicans do best - Shafting the American people.

(This is not to say that Democrats are much better)

Right because if they were they would have done something about prices in the drug industry and those insurance companies, and maybe made something that could sustainably insure everyone.

Give up already! Can we get back to the important issues facing America like our failing infrastructure. Where are the hearings on that?

It'll be coming up right after the 100th attempt to eliminate the ACA.

Luckily, after trump is President attempt 101 eliminating ObamaCare will be passed by Congress and signed by President Trump.Then on day 2 of Trump's Presidency...Trump appoints new AG and FBI Director who are approved by the Republican Senate.Day 3, Clinton is indicted by the DOJ.

Day 4, Trump declares, I am the senate! All American ground troops will get snazzy new combat armor:Day 5, A small freighter will be attacked, but two droids that the troopers will not be looking for will escape with the plans to Trump's wall that Mexico will pay for....This all sounds familiar. I can't think of where I've seen this before, though...

Sorry, Charlie. I beat you to the picture caption and I asked why Hillary was the Emperor.

You all know this is a witch hunt. FBI Comey is doing the right thing in trying to be transparent so as to let voters decide. Still going to vote Hillary and not Trump.

But this has nothing to do with voting for Hillary or Trump. I don't plan on voting for either one, but that doesn't change what Hillary did, and the fact that her actions received zero consequences, when anyone else would have received life in prison.

Give up already! Can we get back to the important issues facing America like our failing infrastructure. Where are the hearings on that?

It'll be coming up right after the 100th attempt to eliminate the ACA.

Luckily, after trump is President attempt 101 eliminating ObamaCare will be passed by Congress and signed by President Trump.Then on day 2 of Trump's Presidency...Trump appoints new AG and FBI Director who are approved by the Republican Senate.Day 3, Clinton is indicted by the DOJ.

Awww.. How cute. You think Republicans want to repeal the ACA.. You think the insurance companies will let them take away a government mandated revenue stream?At most, Republicans will get rid of annoying elements like covering pre-existing conditions, allowing children to stay on their parents insurance, and other things which affect the insurance companies bottom line..You know, doing what Republicans do best - Shafting the American people.(This is not to say that Democrats are much better)

Aw how cute, you think health insurance companies want ObamaCare.There has not been a Republican President for 7 years. All that shafting you mention is Obama's shaft all up inside ya.

Yeah, what kind of business would want a government mandate to buy their product? I am sure they really hate that people are forced to buy their shitty products.